Matt Garza threw a no-hitter in 2010, and topped 200 innings for the second year in a row while posting a 3.91 ERA. He will take that resume from Tampa Bay to Lakeview in 2011, as the Chicago Cubs acquired him Friday in an eight-player deal.
Garza is no darling of statistically inclined fans or analysts, but he is a very good pitcher. He throws an excellent fastball, averaging over 93 miles per hour and with good movement, and an A-plus slider. He will be the Cubs’ ace by the season’s end, although given the modest talent in the rotation before the trade, that may not be saying that much.
As good as Garza is, and as welcome as he will be on the Cubs roster, the Tampa Bay Rays won this trade. The Cubs get value, but they gave up an awful lot in the somewhat misguided pursuit of contending in 2011. Read on for 10 observations about this big trade for both teams.